Communication received good spin at this year’s annual Sport Committee meetings, the advisory board pow-wow for USA Cycling. We love the spirit of transparency characterizing correspondence from CEO Derek Bouchard-Hall to membership in his first year! In that spirit, we think it’s important to share what our committee discusses and who we are.

Each committee member represents a role or a constituency. My role is Coach Rep. Here are the other members, all of them have varying lengths of service within the sport and admirable contributions:

Karen Bliss is our appointed Industry Rep. She is VP of Marketing at ASI. ASI owns Fuji and now Performance and Bike Nashbar. She is also closely connected with the famous race up Manayunk in Philadelphia.

Pedro Payne, Ph.D. is our At-Large Rep. He is Director of Community Outreach and Patient Experience at Loma Linda University East Campus/Surgical Hospitals. He directs a large team of para-cyclists.

Gina Kavesh is our Committee Chairwoman, Local Association Rep, and representative to the Board of Directors of USAC. She is involved in event promotion, her Local Association in the Pacific NW, and is the Executive Director of the WAVE Foundation, who brings awareness about domestic violence.

Randy Warren is our Male Athlete Rep. He is a longtime Coach with experience working in many regions across the country and within various constituencies, such as collegiate and elite development. He lives in Asheville, NC and enjoys running skills camps.

Ashley Travieso is our Race Director Rep. She is involved in the USA Crit series and runs Athens Twilight. She also brings unique perspective from her involvement in diverse sports and as the wife of a domestic pro rider.

Bonnie Walker is our Officials Rep. She is an executive leader within the software industry. She works tirelessly through Texas Bicycle Racing Association. She also sits on the National Technical Commission, which provides guidance to the Technical Director of USAC.

Jeffrey Hansen, Director of Member Experience, USAC is our staff contact. We work with Jeffrey to convey our discussions to the relevant USAC departments, and he keeps us informed using data and deduction about the happenings throughout our membership.

Events & Members

Our focus is improving the quality of USAC events and offerings. We learned that fewer race days results in fewer members. Did you know that membership growth is at a plateau but that the percentages in key segments, like juniors and women, are growing? USAC’s hope to expand the sport – Ride Membership – is showing robust growth. This reflects a reality that most sports are experiencing contracting membership within their competitive governance structures, but that more and more people are involved in recreational sport. We are embracing our ride brethren and non- or semi-competitive events, such as gravel grinders and gran fondos and offering terrific benefits, such as insurance and connection with other participants.

USAC is also committed to a high standard within our traditional events. Operating these events puts a heavy demand on human and financial resources. USAC is moving forward with a better experience for event organizers and participants and with a more cost-effective strategy. Our committee – and across most disciplines – decided to support removing some categories from Nationals and to separate various categories to offer improved venues and experiences for national event participants. We recognize that some members may be saddened by this.

In my Coach rep role, I also sit on the Coach Committee: all coaches agreed that kids age 9-10 should be riding bikes for fun; our BMX unit provides numerous opportunities for this age group also. We hope to grow lifetime cyclists, and current research indicates that talent identification under 15-16 does not indicate future potential as adult competitors, and putting kids into high levels of competition yields early burn-out – not senior stars or lifetime cyclists.

Brainstorming Board USA Cycling Road Committee

For women, we recommended standardization. This means that a Cat5 women’s category could roll out soon. We offer this to provide a truly introductory experience for new and beginning riders in the sport. To ease the burden on race promoters, we offer this as a separate category scored within existing race categories – similar to men’s introductory categories. For both genders, Cat 5-4 upgrades will reflect some changes where participation in a broader variety of ride experiences scores points, such as gran fondos and skills clinics. We hope to encourage skills focus and reduce the perceived risks of being thrown into events with more experienced riders.

Clubs & Teams

We had an exciting brain storm session about our club and team system. Clubs are not currently required to promote events. Our committee recommended that we continue this policy but that we add incentives for clubs and organizations who wish to promote a broad array of cycling-related events. We discussed a ranking system – along the lines of USAC’s Coach or Officials Continuing Education Credit tracks – where clubs can earn distinction through various activities which help grow the sport.

The Committee also had a lively discussion about the importance of acknowledging our winners but also in recognizing supporters. Cycling is a team sport with individual winners, and these individuals rely on others in mass start events. We started a discussion about how to shift our focus and reflect society’s changing behaviors about groups and working together. We hope to report more about this.

Cycling Service

We are all weary of our national Election Season, but we want you to be thinking about Cycling’s Elected Representatives.The Road Committee has two spots for Athlete Representatives – and both positions are vacant. We need you to come alongside us and provide your point of view. We discussed changing the qualifications for these roles so that a broader base can participate. Look for more on this soon so you can seek nomination in July Elections.

Prayers for the Peloton is a daily prayer book written to meet the spiritual need in competitive cycling. In particular I wanted to let the cycling community know that no matter what the challenge, someone has prayed for them to fight through to victory.

I wrote Prayers in 2008 when I came off the race circuit to care for aging parents, and then blogged it, updating as I blogged, about twice weekly until completion in November, 2011. The book is dedicated to my parents, Bernard DeSeal Leasure and M. June Leasure, two prayer warriors and victors in life, who enjoyed riding bikes.

Under the sub-headings for Prayers for the Peloton, the book contains a daily prayer, roughly tracking the competitive road racing season. Six prayers per week are offered – assuming a rest day, even from spiritual discipline. Six days for off-season contemplation is also offered under October. See the original Table of Contents below.

Some of the Titles of daily prayers were modified when blogged but the format remains the same. Interestingly, even though written and scheduled to blog well prior, many of the blog entries responded to the current, publicized and private, needs in the race community. This was purely providential, perhaps a sign that a loving God loves those who race bikes.

40“Every year at season’s end, I evaluate what happened this year and thank God for it before deciding where He will lead me the next year.” Kim Morrow, Masters World Champion & Cycling Coach

Fare thee well cycling friends...

A long season closes after – many peaks and valleys, straight and crooked roads, still and windy days, hot and chillin’ moments, old bases of support and new acquaintances, deepening experience and teachable times, predictions and surprises, goals missed and hopes met, defeats and yes some victories – some of them in the form of race wins.

Each year brings its set of troubles and triumphs. Whether it finishes on a low or a high note, we have songs of praise to sing. Be joyful now and carry the highest hopes for what’s ahead. Problems aside, just now we are thankful for what has come and what is.

An entire season of daily Prayers for the Peloton has now been blogged. To track the season and see some off-season notes, see Prayers: Table of Contents. Fare thee well my friends.

We are glad for another year of competitive cycling. We are grateful for all the people in the cycling community that participate, orchestrate, and watch bike racing. Thanks for another year of health, fitness, and joy. Even the suffering has brought good rewards. Even our pains have led to blessings and we count those now.

Ponder What am I most thankful for this past racing season? Affirm I am so glad for — this year! Watch and carry these blessings into your next season of cycling and life.

9“Government must help to eliminate cars so that bicycles can help to eliminate government.” Dutch Bicycle Advocacy Slogan

Precise direction helps when government lead the people

Just as various governments have more control than others, so do federal and municipal governments worldwide have various funds, programs, and policies regarding road use by bicyclists. Contrast Chinese bike use with a Dutchman’s commute. From a highly organized network of bike lanes to bicycle-prioritized boulevards to gravel roads which span a continent, ride experience changes across borders.

Governments worldwide are awakening to planning and maintaining roads with us in mind. A connection between energy resources, health, and economic issues that’s always been obvious to cyclists as road-users is at the forefront of societal trends but perhaps not prioritized as a policy everywhere. Bicycle commuters and cyclo-tourism benefit when road planning for us is part of government planning. Bike racers benefit in training from these potentially safer streets and awareness by drivers. We rely on government highway authorities.

The coordination of all the municipalities and agencies is a huge task to make bicycle policy. Likewise, getting a bike race promoted requires liaison with all sorts of government officials. Incentives include tourist dollars, public relations, sponsor exposure, conservation, and traffic control. It requires cash to pay for it. It also requires patrols to monitor it.

The police sirens of every nation blare distinctive warnings in their protective, directive duty. From a French two-beat blare in a minor key to the tranquilo tunes of Mexican police autos, you can hear a peloton coming like heads of state in a caravan!

Share the Road signs warn the American motorist to watch out for us. Perhaps it can remind us as we ride that the responsibility for enabling our especially beloved form of motion is shared with Big Brother everywhere. Us means government and police involvement with cycling in infrastructure, race promotion, sponsorship, and bicycle governance.

Prayer for Government & Police

“The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation.”101 Timothy 2:1-2

We confess we take for granted so much as we sling a leg over a top tube to take a ride on the road. We ask for government interest and cooperation in cycling and our safety. We ask blessing on government as they legislate and administrate us.

Ponder What is my government doing for cycling? Affirm I ask not only what government is doing for cycling, but what I as a cyclist am doing for government. Watch Big Brother back and share the rule.

9“Bicycle Quotes,” from Bicycle Humor! Posted on www.atlantabike.org and taken from The Quotable Cyclist: Great Moments of Bicycling Wisdom, Inspiration and Humor by Bill Strickland published by Breakaway Books Series

11“I think the asthma medicine has helped my time drop just this last week b/c my breathing has improved so much. Today I was NEVER wheezing and that hasn’t happened ever this season. I give God and the coaches all of the credit!” Marshal Hartley, Junior Cyclist

Asthma is long-term inflammation of the lung’s breathing passages and its attacks can be mild as well as life-threatening. While 12only a small percentage of Sudden Cardiac Deaths are related to asthma, 13mortality rates per 100,000 are 1-3 people per year. In an attack, airways swell and secrete large amounts of mucous. This leads to shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness. Attacks may be caused by a number of factors, such as: air quality, respiratory infections, allergens in air, extremes of temperature and humidity, emotional stress, and exercise intensity.

Those with EIA are 14unusually sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. Continuous, hard cycling is a more likely scenario for an attack than short bursts interspersed with breaks. Cyclists can control EIA through purposeful warm-ups and cool-downs and meds.

EIA prescriptions are a class of drugs related to the hormone, adrenaline, requiring a standard Therapeutic Use Exemption by WADA. However, research is 15“overwhelmingly on the side that in otherwise healthy individuals, taking a beta-2 (β2) agonist will not help performance even if it helps pulmonary function (studies are mixed on the latter).”Therefore, breathing for the asthmatic improves but there is no 16ergogenic potential of inhaled β2 agonists in non-asthmatic athletes.

With treatment, elite athletes with EIA are not hindered to perform but may still cope with stress related to the condition, and an attack may be a scary, exhausting experience. Whether you suffer this yourself or see it in another in the peloton, enlist an asthma/allergy expert for help.

Prayer re: Exercise-Induced Asthma

“My strength is gone, and it is hard for me to breathe….He said…‘Don’t be afraid. God loves you very much. Peace be with you. Be strong now; be courageous.’”17Revelation 10:17, 19

We ask for easy breathing, the proper approval for prescription inhalers and complete 18healing if You will it.

Ponder Do I seek God for all that ails me? Affirm I surrender to peace when fear tries to grip me. Watch God meet you in every struggle.

11Conversations with Marshal Hartley, Junior Cyclist with EIA

12“Sudden Death in Young Athletes,” presented by John Vitarello MD F.A.C.C. on November 8, 2007 as a USA Cycling webinar.

13“Asthma” listed on Center for Disease Control website www.cdc.gov Figures vary depending on region and ethnicity.

54“…Altitude tents are about learning to live with less oxygen. So then what about training in an environment without any oxygen? Now that’s the way to really do it. The next day we…pioneered…underwater training. The oxygen deprived environment lurking below the surface of lakes and oceans may be just what is needed to condition the body to perform with less oxygen…it was tricky at first getting used [to] riding underwater…looking at the little fish is also a nice change of scenery.” Highlander Bicycles

The latest trend in training?

This was a joke, but sometimes we cyclists go to ridiculous depths to adapt to the heights of competitiveness. More accepted practices for altitude acclimatization seem just as ridiculous. In just the last several years, altitude researchers reveal puzzling and sometimes conflicting data regarding altitude’s affect on performance. Sifting through myths, we outline the latest truths about ascending the heights with success. First truth is that this field of study is still finding out new information. By the time this is published, new studies will probably be available. In the meantime, facts as we currently understand them:

*Best to arrive hours prior to an event at altitude is FALSE. It helps to arrive last minute for events above 10,000’ but it’s better even at that height to gradually adapt by sleeping a mile high (5680’) the night before.

* The idea that altitude doesn’t affect you for several days is FALSE. 55Studies show that an effect takes place upon arrival at altitude within 8 minutes of hard exertion.

* Altitude doesn’t affect everyone – mostly FALSE. 56“At moderately-high altitudes (6,000-10,000 feet), most athletes see about a 10% decrease in their sustainable power at lactate threshold…with an even greater decrease in power output…closer to VO2 max.”

* The idea that altitude riders will beat you at altitude is FALSE. Performance is affected, but a fitter athlete can still win. Much was made of competing at altitude during Collegiate Nationals but the proof was many podium performers were from sea-level.

* Time is your friend for altitude acclimatization –TRUE. There are several periods of notable adaptation but complete transfer takes 12-18 months.

* Training at altitude gives you an edge – FALSE. Training at altitude could negatively affect performance since during the acclimatization period; sea level power outputs cannot be sustained. 57Losing a year’s max training potential during adaptation isn’t recommended.

* Live High, Train Low is NOT YET PROVEN. 58Anecdotal studies point to positive results. Studies proving success with altitude tents and hypoxic devices depend on duration of daily exposure over time. There are no results yet for how long the effect can be maintained.

Weather’s counterpart, Terrain, and her friend – High Ground is another cycling personification that becomes a friend through long acquaintance.

Prayer for Altitude Acclimatization

“So please don’t, out of old habit, slip back into being or doing what everyone else tells you. Friends, stay where you were called to be. God is there. Hold the high ground with him at your side.” 591 Corinthians 7:23-24

We acknowledge praying for this may compromise lowland power. Be with us wherever we are.

Ponder What do I cling to for help when challenged? Affirm God is with me everywhere. Watch for signs of God on flat road and over mountain passes.

35“It’s not the rider going across the line with his/her arm raised, but how did the sponsorship affect sales, connect with people and the market?” Michael Aisner, Cycling Promoter

Wins yes, sponsor sustainability...not this time.

Teams can be enormously successful in race results and still lose sponsorship. The key to a successful relationship between sponsor and sport is to target corporate marketing objectives and cooperate in a joint program to get the word out. For sponsorship to continue, bike racers become messengers of corporate marketing, not just the bearers of name brands on jerseys, which is only a small piece of sponsor strategy. Winning may not even be important to the corporate marketing strategy.

A message is marketed in various ways, and there can be many strategies. Athletes are sponsored mostly because of influential abilities as spokespeople, connecting sponsor interests to desired markets. For an established brand, it’s more about driving more consumers more often to the product than publicizing it.

There are other strategies as well. Sometimes the goal is an alignment with cycling’s values and brand for health, active lifestyles, environmentalism, a cause, or particular technologies. The match may be to reach a similar demographic of race enthusiasts to recruit employees or other services. It may be to educate a company about an emerging product line as a research unit with athletic applications. It may be to reach specific markets where races have broad consumer exposure or to send cyclists to retail centers to attract customers thereby appealing to a broader demographic.

This may occur at bike races, but also at events within a sponsor’s industry including expos, trade shows, swap meets, pod casts, websites, email newsletters, and the be all-end all, media exposure. Some live to track media hits to ensure the value of its cycling investment. Others establish ambassador programs where teams represent a brand message at school visits. The value of this type of visibility is tougher to evaluate for measurable impact.

Whichever strategy, cycling sponsorship is an extension of corporate marketing’s efforts to speak to the people they want to reach. Bike racers may need to be concerned about winning – races and continued sponsorship, and the two may be exclusive goals.

Prayer for Marketing & Advertising

“I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”36Romans 9:17

We ask for new ways to present cycling to the world – ways that attract sustainable provision.

Ponder What organizations would benefit from a cycling presence? Affirm I am my sponsor’s representative. Watch your talk because it’s not just about you.

Tom Schuler gets Honorable Mention in this piece. He was one of the original crew within an American sponsorship dynasty that began as the 7-Eleven squad and evolved into Motorola, with eventual ties to US Postal Service and eventually Discovery Channel. Tom has run a number of successful teams proving his longevity as a survivor in the intense milieu of cycling’s well-sponsored teams through quality marketing programs – Team Saturn being the crown jewel thus far, but with Team Type 1 number 1 as a cause sponsorship.